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Tomorrow's Hope Today

"Mommy, I really want to be a teacher when I grow up. I'm smart. I'm pretty. And I have really good ideas of things my kids could do."

Clara's self-proclamation followed by a lengthy explanation of ladybug hand art her class could make as Mother's Day presents for their moms. Her idea sounded like it fell from the lips of a college graduate. It sounded odd dripping from six year old lips.

Clara surprises me. She composes songs. She hand-writes letters to friends. She wants to call her friends parents.

I have no idea if one day she'll be a teacher but I know with certainty God has an incredible plan for her life. Nearly daily I gather her into my lap and whisper to her of God's greatness. Words of thanksgiving pass from my lips through her ear. I want her to hear, to know, to be excited about her future.

Her view of her future sculpts her today.

What do you see when you view your future?

Do you forecast wasted days spent at a job you dislike?

Do you view an empty house?

Or do you witness wonder? The wonder of knowing God is and will continue to lead you on an adventure of faith. Do you know He will do great things in and through you?

There is simplicity in knowing because you believe God has a future and a hope for you.

A week ago Scott bumped into a man who pulled a crumpled old piece of paper from pocket. On it Scott had scrawled, "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11"

This man Scott hardly knew, who he'd encouraged in a passing encounter had been carrying this paper in his pocket for two years. These life-giving, hope-proclaiming words have sustained him during long, hard days.

His today doesn't define his tomorrow. Instead he allows tomorrow to define his today. He is excited about his future which infuses hope, life and purpose in the here and now.

I love those hushed moments of expectancy with my daughters. I love celebrating who God created them to be and anticipating who they will become. Just as they crawl into my lap to hear these words, we can climb into His.

Totally struggle with this! I worry about finances and dread the day my last child leaves home. However, I'm learning to take one day at a time, entrusting the future to God and committing the results of my parenting to him. God does have a plan, and I know he's leading me step by step. I'm learning to trust. Thanks for a great reminder!

It can be so frightening and exhilarating at the same time when the Lord lays dreams for our futures on our hearts! I'm stuck in the fear and disbelief stage right now. Pray for me please! Thank you for this post!

Hi Shannon,what a lovely post, and what a wise Mom you are..........So neat that your hubby found out that man was carrying around thescripture that he gave him for 2 years.....how wonderful! God is so good to bring encouragement like that, isn't he!I am very excited about my future, and have to say I love my lifeand know God has something great in store for us next year, just can't say what it is quite yet! With these days we are living in we all have to keep our eyesfastly fixed on Jesus or we will fastly become pit dwellers for sure. But GOD is for us, and who can be against us!Blessings my friend,Nellie

How does God do that?! Breathing words of life into my heart just when I need them! Thank you for this reminder. My tomorrow is shaping my today. I posted today about stepping out in faith to Serbia and the disabled. The plan is coming together and as I step further out on that limb my heart quakes just a bit. Thanks for reminding me God's got nothing but good in store.

Thank you for sharing your beautiful story at Tell Me a Story Blog Party. That is so precious that your daughter envisions herself as a leader and perhaps a teacher. You are building into her grace and confidence as you whisper into her ear the blessings God has in store for her. Our time on earth is limited. We do not have a promise of tomorrow, so it is today that we must minister to others for our Lord.